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Edith
Edith, a disappointed old woman, doesn’t much care that her husband of forty-seven years is lying dead next to her. Her mind is on the Christmas strata she’s to bake in an hour or so. She has lived the unfinished life of any number of women in their sixties. The question she and they ask isn’t, “Is this all there is?” It’s more like, “When did I drop the reins?” Sometimes women like Edith learn that getting older offers one last chance at discovering who they really are. Scraps in her dead husband's take her on a mission to discover the secret life he had been living. The clues lead to a lover, maybe, a prostitute, sometimes, and her son, a man of secrets also. Edith discovers herself in this search, a different woman than she's ever imagined herself to be.
284 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 9, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 10, 2015
ETA: The author has informed me that this version of the book no longer exists and a new and improved version (with a new title too - Never Too Late) will be released shortly through Penner Publishing.
Edith is the second of Jo Barney's books I've read. While the first, Uprush, was a more polished read, I still enjoyed Edith too.
I tried to explain this genre type to a male friend the other day, I suggested it was like 'Chick Lit' but for the "grey" generation readers, like the recent 'grey nomad lifestyle'. He instantly knew what I meant and thought it was an amusing new sub-genre.
Despite not being in the target audience demographic, I still enjoyed going through Edith's rather tumultuous daily life. Her sense of humour, at times, was right on point and was very amusing. I followed her through unravelling the mystery left to her by her husband, Art. And I also loved watching the relationships build around her.
I felt at about 70% things got a little slow, I struggled to keep reading because so much of what was happening felt like Edith was just being 'woe-is-me' and not actively participating in the events. This feeling did pass fairly quickly when the climax of the story came about.
I also feel a little more closure could bolster the strength of this book.
All in all, I did enjoy reading this story, it's got mystery and emotional or familial themes running through it and would be suitable for most adult readers. I do feel this would have a stronger message for women, and men, in the target demographic more than the younger readers, but I don't think it's appeal is limited to the 'grey readers'.
It does need quite an extensive edit. The things I noticed:
9% - ...wine in the other hand. '" - remove space after fullstop.
20% - ...a tender a (delete a) teat at him.
22% - ...any apron strings still tie tie (delete second tie) me to...
27% - ...found this receipt, and she is (delete is) needs to know...
28% - ...bother me so much (to) find out about them?
29% - He had tried (to) change things.
30% - ...I'm trying to become.. (Delete second fullstop)
37% - I believe change is (a) good thing...
38% - ...holding (a) book on my chest...
- ...turns his back away fro(m) the light...
40% - (sentences both start in the middle) doesn't answer my question.
must have seen my eyebrows...
- ...given much thought to (one)'s skin color;
41% - ...rings, startles (replace with startling) me, I almost ignore it.
- several instances of Ginnie's name missing from the text, leaving "'s".
- spoonsful should be spoonfuls.
42% - " (insert Art or He) gave me his phone...
- ...once or twice with , (insert relevant name) and then...
46% - ...that's enough (to) make my heart beat...
- ...we have made our ways (delete s) to the dog park...
48% - ...middle-of (delete space)-the-night...
58% - ...the l930's (1930's) bungalow...
62% - "I'm (delete I'm add I've) pulled out a black...
63% - ...talked a while back. ? (Delete ?)
66% - ...what we both should do (to) help...
68% - So I asked (Dad/Art) out for a drink...
69% - ...she'd run as (delete s) check of some sort...
81% - (Is) it still unfinished,
89% - " (delete space) I am okay.
91% - ...many secrets do you and (insert missing word) keep, about my son...
**Note: I was provided an electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**
Edith is the second of Jo Barney's books I've read. While the first, Uprush, was a more polished read, I still enjoyed Edith too.
I tried to explain this genre type to a male friend the other day, I suggested it was like 'Chick Lit' but for the "grey" generation readers, like the recent 'grey nomad lifestyle'. He instantly knew what I meant and thought it was an amusing new sub-genre.
Despite not being in the target audience demographic, I still enjoyed going through Edith's rather tumultuous daily life. Her sense of humour, at times, was right on point and was very amusing. I followed her through unravelling the mystery left to her by her husband, Art. And I also loved watching the relationships build around her.
I felt at about 70% things got a little slow, I struggled to keep reading because so much of what was happening felt like Edith was just being 'woe-is-me' and not actively participating in the events. This feeling did pass fairly quickly when the climax of the story came about.
I also feel a little more closure could bolster the strength of this book.
All in all, I did enjoy reading this story, it's got mystery and emotional or familial themes running through it and would be suitable for most adult readers. I do feel this would have a stronger message for women, and men, in the target demographic more than the younger readers, but I don't think it's appeal is limited to the 'grey readers'.
It does need quite an extensive edit. The things I noticed:
9% - ...wine in the other hand. '" - remove space after fullstop.
20% - ...a tender a (delete a) teat at him.
22% - ...any apron strings still tie tie (delete second tie) me to...
27% - ...found this receipt, and she is (delete is) needs to know...
28% - ...bother me so much (to) find out about them?
29% - He had tried (to) change things.
30% - ...I'm trying to become.. (Delete second fullstop)
37% - I believe change is (a) good thing...
38% - ...holding (a) book on my chest...
- ...turns his back away fro(m) the light...
40% - (sentences both start in the middle) doesn't answer my question.
must have seen my eyebrows...
- ...given much thought to (one)'s skin color;
41% - ...rings, startles (replace with startling) me, I almost ignore it.
- several instances of Ginnie's name missing from the text, leaving "'s".
- spoonsful should be spoonfuls.
42% - " (insert Art or He) gave me his phone...
- ...once or twice with , (insert relevant name) and then...
46% - ...that's enough (to) make my heart beat...
- ...we have made our ways (delete s) to the dog park...
48% - ...middle-of (delete space)-the-night...
58% - ...the l930's (1930's) bungalow...
62% - "I'm (delete I'm add I've) pulled out a black...
63% - ...talked a while back. ? (Delete ?)
66% - ...what we both should do (to) help...
68% - So I asked (Dad/Art) out for a drink...
69% - ...she'd run as (delete s) check of some sort...
81% - (Is) it still unfinished,
89% - " (delete space) I am okay.
91% - ...many secrets do you and (insert missing word) keep, about my son...
**Note: I was provided an electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**
March 27, 2015
Oh, this book is so good. I love a solid fiction story revolving around family drama and I am not referring to Jerry Springer drama. I am talking about the secrets that are kept in order to keep the family unit together, but eventually cause life to crumble and rear its ugly head. It's up to the characters to decide if these secrets will make or break them.
I love the main character, Edith. She is an older woman in her sixties who suddenly loses her husband to a massive heart attack and starts to get wise to his other life. As she begins an investigation, things aren't as they appear and soon discovers what has been brewing for 18 years underneath her nose.
I applaud author Jo Barney for brilliantly writing Edith's emotions ... the pent-up feelings for husband, the loss of self and what-ifs? A must read for women-lit readers!
I love the main character, Edith. She is an older woman in her sixties who suddenly loses her husband to a massive heart attack and starts to get wise to his other life. As she begins an investigation, things aren't as they appear and soon discovers what has been brewing for 18 years underneath her nose.
I applaud author Jo Barney for brilliantly writing Edith's emotions ... the pent-up feelings for husband, the loss of self and what-ifs? A must read for women-lit readers!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews